The Leeds United player ratings describe a night that split cleanly in two. Daniel Farke’s rotated side led 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. Then Chelsea scored six after the break and the Whites were out of the Carabao Cup, beaten 6-3.
Leeds United player ratings: three 7s and one 5
The Yorkshire Evening Post handed out three 7s, and Tarik Muharemovic took one of them — rising at the back post to head in Harry Wilson’s inswinging corner, then spraying passes out to Daniel James, before a second-half slump he could not arrest.
Michael Zetterer, handed a debut in goal, was marked 6 for a good near-post save to deny Jamie Gittens at 1-0, and could do little about the goals that followed. James Justin also got a 6, credited with an early block on Estevao but caught on his heels when Danny Welbeck made it 4-2.
Jaka Bijol took the harshest mark of the back four, a 5. He won every long and aerial ball early on, the YEP noted, but frustrated Farke in possession, was caught out of position and was done by Welbeck for Chelsea’s fourth. Every Leeds mark is at the YEP.
Where the tie turned
Brenden Aaronson turned in Ethan Ampadu’s cross, flicked on by Lukas Nmecha, for 2-0 just after half-time. Referee Jarred Gillett then gave Chelsea a penalty for a coming-together involving James — the Guardian’s match report described only slight contact — and Cole Palmer converted, then added a second within minutes. Pedro Neto and Welbeck completed four goals in 12 minutes. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, set up by Noah Okafor, made it 4-3 before Barco and Welbeck finished it.
“One small situation in football can change the world and the momentum of the game,” Farke said. Our full report on the 6-3 defeat is here.
